Mitt Romney gets tough with Newt Gingrich

ByReutersDecember 2, 2011

In this June 13 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney participate in a presidential debate at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney toughened his rhetoric against Newt Gingrich Friday in a sign he is starting to take seriously the challenge from his surging rival.

Gingrich, the latest conservative alternative to the more moderate Romney, may be peaking at the right time with only four weeks left until Iowa holds the first U.S. nominating contest of the 2012 election cycle Jan. 3.

The Republican race has seen several candidates rise and fall as viable rivals to Romney, the former head of a private equity and leveraged buyout firm.

The two contenders have sparred this week, with Gingrich raising allegations of Romney policy flip-flops while Romney denounced the former House speaker as a ``lifelong politician'' who lacks credibility in understanding of how the U.S. economy works.

``I actually believe that what we need is someone who has lived out in America, not in Washington, who's had the experience of leading enterprises, who has led a state...I have that experience,'' Romney said.